US8015793B2 - Fuel heating via exhaust gas extraction - Google Patents
Fuel heating via exhaust gas extraction Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US8015793B2 US8015793B2 US12/175,665 US17566508A US8015793B2 US 8015793 B2 US8015793 B2 US 8015793B2 US 17566508 A US17566508 A US 17566508A US 8015793 B2 US8015793 B2 US 8015793B2
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- Prior art keywords
- exhaust gas
- fuel
- passage
- heat exchanger
- stack
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- Expired - Fee Related, expires
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- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 211
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 16
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 title description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 321
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 claims description 50
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 claims description 45
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 25
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 17
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000033228 biological regulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002860 competitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02C—GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F02C7/00—Features, components parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart form groups F02C1/00 - F02C6/00; Air intakes for jet-propulsion plants
- F02C7/22—Fuel supply systems
- F02C7/224—Heating fuel before feeding to the burner
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2260/00—Function
- F05D2260/80—Diagnostics
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2270/00—Control
- F05D2270/01—Purpose of the control system
- F05D2270/08—Purpose of the control system to produce clean exhaust gases
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E20/00—Combustion technologies with mitigation potential
- Y02E20/16—Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and system for heating fuel for a gas turbine engine, and more particularly, to a method and system for extracting engine exhaust gas from the exhaust gas stream to heat the fuel to improve the operating efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
- the operating efficiency of a gas turbine engine driven generation plant may be increased by heating the fuel prior to combustion in the engine as less fuel energy is needed to raise the fuel temperature for combustion. Such plants produce considerable excess heat that may be used to increase the temperature of the fuel.
- steam produced in the heat recovery steam generator may be diverted from the steam turbine driven generator to a heat exchanger and used to heat the fuel.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,481 discloses a system where engine fuel is heated by passing it through a heat exchanger in a by-pass channel connected to the engine exhaust stack. The amount of exhaust gas passing through the by-pass channel is controlled by a damper, and the exhaust gas is vented to the atmosphere after passing through the by-pass channel. Unheated fuel may be mixed with the heated fuel to control the temperature of the heated fuel before combustion in the engine.
- a method of heating a fuel for a gas turbine engine for effecting an improvement in the operating efficiency of the gas turbine may comprise providing a heat exchanger having an exhaust gas passage and a fuel passage, extracting a high temperature exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine exhaust gas stream and passing the high temperature exhaust gas through the heat exchanger exhaust gas passage.
- the method may further comprise passing a fuel though the heat exchanger fuel passage, heating the fuel in the heat exchanger fuel passage, producing a heated fuel and a cooled exhaust gas and returning the cooled exhaust gas to the exhaust gas stream upstream of an exhaust emissions sensor.
- a system for heating a fuel for a gas turbine engine for effecting an improvement in the operating efficiency of the gas turbine may comprise an exhaust gas to fuel heat exchanger having an exhaust gas passage including an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet and a fuel passage including a fuel inlet connected to a fuel supply and a fuel outlet connected to a gas turbine engine fuel inlet.
- the system may further comprise an exhaust gas inlet duct connected between a gas turbine engine exhaust gas stream and the exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet duct connected between the exhaust gas outlet and the gas turbine engine exhaust gas stream.
- the exhaust gas inlet duct directs a flow of high temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine engine exhaust gas stream and through the exhaust gas passage to transfer heat from the high temperature exhaust gas to the fuel in the heat exchanger producing a heated fuel and a cooled exhaust gas.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel heating system for a gas turbine engine in a simple cycle electrical power generation plant in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the fuel heating system of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the fuel heating system shown in FIG. 2 used in a combined cycle electrical power generation plant in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- the present invention provides a method and corresponding system for heating a fuel for a gas turbine engine by transferring excess heat from the engine exhaust gas to the fuel without the use of an intermediate fluid such as water.
- a portion of the high temperature engine exhaust gas is extracted from the exhaust gas stream and passed through an exhaust gas passage in an exhaust gas to fuel heat exchanger.
- An engine fuel is passed through a fuel passage in the heat exchanger where heat is transferred directly from the high temperature exhaust gas to the fuel.
- the exhaust gas is subsequently returned to the exhaust gas stream after passing through the heat exchanger.
- the heated fuel is combusted in the gas turbine engine, raising the operating efficiency of the engine because less fuel energy is needed to raise the temperature of the fuel for combustion.
- Embodiments of the invention are applicable to both simple-cycle and combined-cycle electrical power generation plants.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 an exemplary fuel heating system 10 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is illustrated in a simple-cycle power generation plant 8 where FIG. 1 shows a perspective view and FIG. 2 shows a schematic view.
- the system 10 provides heated fuel to a gas turbine engine 12 , within which, the fuel, such as a natural gas or methane, is mixed with compressed air and combusted to produce a hot working gas, which is used to drive a turbine (not shown) where energy within the working gas is converted to a rotational mechanical motion causing a turbine shaft (not shown) to rotate.
- the turbine shaft (not shown) may be connected to a generator (not shown) for generation of electrical power.
- an exhaust gas After passing through the turbine engine 12 the working gas, now referred to as an exhaust gas, is routed to an exhaust stack 14 by a connecting structure 16 connected between the engine 12 and the exhaust stack 14 .
- the connecting structure 16 in combination with the exhaust stack 14 , defines an exhaust gas flow referred to herein as an exhaust gas stream.
- the exhaust gas exits the engine 12 at a high velocity and a high temperature, for example a temperature within a range of about 900 degrees F. to about 1200 degrees F.
- a high temperature exhaust gas represented by the arrows 18 (shown only in FIG. 2 )
- the high temperature exhaust gas 18 contains a considerable amount of excess heat energy that is wasted when the high temperature exhaust gas 18 is discharged to the atmosphere. It is an object of the present invention to extract a portion of the excess heat energy from the high temperature exhaust gas 18 and use the excess heat energy to heat the fuel prior to combustion in the engine 12 , thereby improving the operating efficiency of the engine 12 and the plant.
- An exhaust gas to fuel heat exchanger 22 including an exhaust gas passage 24 (shown only in FIG. 2 ) having an exhaust gas inlet 26 and an exhaust gas outlet 28 is positioned proximate to the exhaust stack 14 .
- a first end of an exhaust gas inlet duct 30 is connected to the exhaust stack 14 at an extraction location 32
- a second end of the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 is connected to the exhaust gas inlet 26 of the exhaust gas passage 24 .
- the extraction location 32 is preferably located at a high pressure region of the exhaust gas stream.
- a portion of the high temperature exhaust gas 18 is thereby extracted from the exhaust gas stream at the extraction location 32 and routed to the exhaust gas passage 24 within the heat exchanger 22 by the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 .
- the portion of high temperature exhaust gas extracted from the exhaust gas stream at the extraction location 32 may be within a range of about 4% to about 7% of the total amount of high temperature exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust gas stream.
- a first exhaust gas outlet duct 34 is connected to the exhaust gas outlet 28 of the exhaust gas passage 24 .
- the exhaust gas outlet duct 34 connects the exhaust gas outlet 28 to an inlet of an induction blower 36 .
- the induction blower 36 is configured to induce a flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage 24 as will be described in more detail herein.
- a second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 connects an outlet of the induction blower 36 to the exhaust stack 14 at a return location 42 .
- the return location 42 is located in the exhaust gas stream upstream from the extraction location 32 and is preferably located at a low pressure region of the exhaust gas stream upstream of mixing baffles (not shown) in the exhaust stack 14 . In this manner, the portion of the high temperature exhaust gas 18 that is extracted from the exhaust gas stream and routed to the exhaust gas passage 24 within the heat exchanger 22 is returned to the exhaust gas stack 14 at the return location 42 after passing through the exhaust gas passage 24 .
- Extracting the high temperature exhaust gas from the extraction location 32 located at a high pressure location in the exhaust gas stream and returning the cooled exhaust gas to the return location 42 located at a low pressure location in the exhaust gas stream provides a flow of high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage 24 even when the induction blower 36 is not operating. Furthermore, returning the cooled exhaust gas to the exhaust stack 14 upstream of the mixing baffles allows the cooled exhaust gas to mix with the hot exhaust gas from the engine so as to minimize thermal shocks presented to components within the exhaust stack 14 .
- the induction blower 36 comprises a first induction blower 36 A and a second induction blower 36 B.
- the first induction blower 36 A and the second induction blower 36 B may be configured to operate independently of one another and to provide a redundancy such that the system 10 may continue to operate while either the first induction blower 36 A or the second induction blower 36 B is serviced or replaced.
- the first exhaust gas outlet duct 34 may branch into a left first exhaust gas outlet duct 34 A connected to an inlet of the first induction blower 36 A and a right first exhaust gas outlet duct 34 B connected to an inlet of the second induction blower 36 B.
- the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 may branch into a left second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 A connected to an outlet of the first induction blower 36 A and a right second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 B connected to an outlet of the second induction blower 36 B.
- a fuel supply line 45 provides fuel to a fuel passage 44 (shown only in FIG. 2 ) having a fuel inlet 46 and a fuel outlet 48 is disposed within the heat exchanger 22 such that the fuel passing through the fuel passage 44 is in heat transfer proximity to the high temperature exhaust gas passing through the exhaust gas passage 24 .
- the fuel outlet 48 is connected to a fuel system 50 that routes the fuel from the heat exchanger 22 to the gas turbine engine 12 .
- Fuel flows from the fuel supply line 45 connected to the fuel inlet 46 , through the fuel passage 44 to the fuel outlet 48 .
- the fuel may be supplied from the fuel supply at a pressure of, for example, about 400 PSIG to about 600 PSIG, and may be at a temperature corresponding to an ambient temperature of the plant, for example, a temperature of approximately 60 degrees F.
- Heat is transferred from the high temperature exhaust gas passing through the exhaust gas passage 24 to the fuel passing through the fuel passage 44 thereby heating the fuel, producing a heated fuel and a cooled exhaust gas.
- the heated fuel is subsequently routed to the gas turbine engine 12 where it is mixed with compressed air and combusted thereby increasing the operating efficiency of the gas turbine engine 12 as previously discussed.
- the fuel may be heated to a temperature within a range of, for example, about 550 degrees F. to about 600 degrees F., and the high temperature exhaust gas may be cooled to a temperature within a range of, for example, about 450 degrees F. to about 650 degrees F.
- the cooled exhaust gas is returned to the exhaust gas stream at the return location 42 in the exhaust stack 14 via the first exhaust gas outlet duct 34 , the induction blower 36 and the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 .
- a temperature measuring device 52 is located within the fuel system 50 between the heat exchanger 22 and the gas turbine engine 12 .
- the temperature measuring device 52 is configured to measure the temperature of the heated fuel after it has been heated in the heat exchanger 22 and to send a fuel temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the heated fuel to a controller 56 (shown only in FIG. 2 ) via a connection 53 such that the temperature of the heated fuel may be controlled as will be described more fully herein
- a speed control device 54 (shown only in FIG. 2 ) is coupled to the induction blower 36 .
- the speed control device 54 is configured to control the speed of the induction blower 36 such that a flow of the high temperature exhaust gas passing through the exhaust gas passage 24 corresponds to a speed of the induction blower 36 .
- the flow of high temperature exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passage 24 may be increased by increasing the speed of the induction blower 36 and reduced by decreasing the speed of the induction blower 36 .
- Increasing the speed of the induction blower 36 and the corresponding flow of high temperature exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passage 24 generally results in a corresponding increase in the temperature of the fuel passing through the fuel passage 44 .
- decreasing the speed of the induction blower 36 and the corresponding flow of high temperature exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas passage 24 generally results in a corresponding smaller increase in the temperature of the fuel passing through the fuel passage 44 .
- the temperature of the heated fuel exiting the fuel passage 44 from the fuel outlet 48 generally correlates to the speed of the induction blower 36 , and the temperature of the heated fuel may be controlled by controlling the speed of the induction blower 36 .
- the speed control device 54 comprises a first speed control device 54 A connected to the first induction blower 36 A and a second speed control device 54 B connected to the second induction blower 36 B.
- the first speed control device 54 A is configured to operate the first induction blower 36 A at a speed corresponding to a signal received from a controller 56 via a connection 55 A as will be described in more detail herein.
- the second speed control device 54 B is configured to operate the second induction blower 36 B at a speed corresponding to a similar signal received from the controller via a connection 55 B.
- the first speed control device 54 A and the second speed control device 54 B are configured to operate independently of one another such that the system 10 may be operated using either the first speed control device 54 A and first induction blower 36 A or the second speed control device 54 B and second induction blower 36 B.
- the system 10 may be operated using the first speed control device 54 A and the first induction blower 36 A simultaneously with the second speed control device 54 B and the second induction blower 36 B. In this manner, the system 10 may continue to operate while the first speed control device 54 A and/or the first induction blower 36 A is serviced or replaced or the second speed control device 54 B and/or the second induction blower 36 B is serviced or replaced.
- the controller 56 is configured to control the temperature of the heated fuel.
- the controller 56 may comprise, for example, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, an industrial controller, a discrete logic circuit or other suitable controlling device.
- the controller 56 is connected to the temperature measuring device 52 via the connection 53 and receives a fuel temperature signal therefrom corresponding to the temperature of the heated fuel sensed by the temperature measuring device 52 .
- the controller 56 is configured to control the speed of the induction blower 36 based at least upon the fuel temperature signal received from the fuel measuring device 52 .
- the controller 56 may receive a temperature setpoint signal from a remote device (not shown) corresponding to a desired fuel temperature setpoint.
- the controller 56 may compare the temperature setpoint signal to the fuel temperature signal received from the temperature measuring device 52 and send a signal to the speed control device 54 that corresponds to a desired speed of the induction blower 36 such that the temperature of the heated fuel sensed by the temperature measuring device 52 approximates the temperature setpoint signal as previously discussed.
- a first isolation damper 58 is positioned in the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 between the extraction location 32 in the exhaust stack 14 and the exhaust gas inlet 26 of the exhaust gas passage 24 and proximate to the exhaust stack 14 .
- the first isolation damper 58 is configured to allow high temperature exhaust gas to flow from the exhaust stack 14 through the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 and into the exhaust gas inlet 26 of the exhaust gas passage 24 when in an open position and to prevent the flow of high temperature exhaust gas from the exhaust stack 14 through the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 and into the exhaust gas inlet 26 of the exhaust gas passage 24 when in a closed position.
- a second isolation damper 60 is positioned in the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 between the induction blower 36 and the return location 42 of the exhaust stack 14 and proximate to the exhaust stack 14 .
- the second isolation damper 60 is configured to allow cooled exhaust gas to flow from the induction blower 36 through the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 and into the exhaust stack 14 at the return location 42 when in an open position and to prevent the flow of cooled exhaust gas from the induction blower 36 through the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 and into the exhaust stack 14 when in a closed position.
- the first and second isolation dampers 58 and 60 may comprise first and second guillotine valves, and may be configured to rapidly transition from the open position to the closed position so as to quickly stop a flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 and exhaust gas outlet duct 40 , respectively.
- a first actuator 62 is coupled to the first isolation damper 58 and is configured to transition the first isolation damper 58 between the open and closed positions.
- a second actuator 64 is coupled to the second isolation damper 60 and is configured to transition the second isolation damper 60 between the open and closed positions.
- the first and second actuators 62 and 64 are connected to the controller 56 and receive signals therefrom via connections 63 and 65 corresponding to desired open and closed positions of the first isolation damper 58 and second isolation damper 60 , respectively.
- a purge air inlet valve 66 is positioned in the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 between the first isolation damper 58 and the exhaust gas inlet 26 of the exhaust gas passage 22 proximate to the first isolation damper 58 .
- the purge air inlet valve 66 is configured to allow ambient air to enter the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 from the surrounding atmosphere when in an open position and to prevent ambient air from entering the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 or high temperature exhaust gas from escaping from the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 to the surrounding atmosphere when in a closed position.
- a third actuator 68 is connected to the purge air inlet valve 66 and is configured to transition the purge air inlet valve 66 between the closed and open positions.
- the third actuator 68 is connected to the controller 56 via a connection 69 and causes the purge air inlet valve 66 to transition to the open or closed position upon receiving a corresponding signal from the controller 56 .
- a purge air outlet valve 70 is positioned in the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 between the induction blower 36 and the second isolation damper 60 proximate to the second isolation damper 60 .
- the purge air outlet valve 70 is configured to allow gasses, including purge air and/or cooled exhaust gas, to exit the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 to the surrounding atmosphere when in an open position and to prevent gasses from exiting the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 when in a closed position.
- a fourth actuator 72 is coupled to the purge air outlet valve 70 and is configured to transition the purge air outlet valve 70 between the closed and open positions.
- the fourth actuator 72 is coupled to the controller 56 via a connection 73 and causes the purge air outlet valve 70 to transition to the open or closed position upon receiving a corresponding signal from the controller 56 .
- a first fuel sensor 74 (shown only in FIG. 2 ) is located in the exhaust gas stream downstream from the return location 42 in the exhaust stack 14 .
- the first fuel sensor 74 is configured to measure a level of unburned fuel in the high temperature exhaust gas 18 in the exhaust gas stream.
- the first fuel sensor 74 is connected to the controller 56 via a connection 75 and sends a signal corresponding to the level of unburned fuel in the high temperature exhaust gas 18 to the controller 56 .
- the first fuel sensor 74 may be an existing exhaust emissions sensor within the exhaust gas stream provided to measure emissions of unburned fuel into the atmosphere in order to comply with environmental regulations. Locating the return location 42 upstream of an existing exhaust emissions sensor allows the existing sensor to be used to determine an operating baseline value of unburned fuel in the exhaust gas stream in order to verify proper operation of a fuel leakage detection system as will be described in more detail herein.
- a first fuel sensor 74 distinct from an existing exhaust emissions sensor may be provided in the exhaust gas stream downstream from the return location 42 in the exhaust stack 14 .
- a second fuel sensor 76 (shown only in FIG. 2 ) is positioned within or near the heat exchanger 22 proximate to the exhaust gas outlet 28 of the exhaust gas passage 24 .
- the second fuel sensor 76 is configured to measure a level of unburned fuel in the cooled exhaust gas exiting from the exhaust gas outlet 28 of the exhaust gas passage 24 .
- the second fuel sensor 76 is connected to the controller 56 via a connection 77 and sends a signal corresponding to the level of unburned fuel in the cooled exhaust gas exiting from the exhaust gas outlet 28 to the controller 56 .
- the high temperature exhaust gas 18 exiting the gas turbine engine 12 and passing through the exhaust stack 14 contains an amount of unburned fuel corresponding to the efficiency of the combustion process.
- This amount of unburned fuel may vary within a range of about 0.01 percent to about 1 percent depending upon operating conditions.
- the controller 56 iteratively monitors the signal from the second fuel sensor 76 corresponding to the level of unburned fuel in the cooled exhaust gas exiting the heat exchanger 22 exhaust gas passage 24 and compares it to a first predetermined threshold value. If the level of unburned fuel in the cooled exhaust gas exiting the heat exchanger 22 exceeds the first predetermined threshold value, the controller 56 determines that fuel is leaking from the fuel passage 44 to the exhaust gas passage 24 in the heat exchanger.
- the controller 56 also monitors the signal from the first fuel sensor 74 corresponding to the level of unburned fuel in the exhaust gas stream and establishes an operating baseline of unburned fuel in the exhaust gas stream.
- the controller 56 iteratively compares the level of unburned fuel in the cooled exhaust gas to the operating baseline of unburned fuel in the exhaust gas stream in order to verify proper operation of the first fuel sensor 74 and the second fuel sensor 76 . If the controller detects that the level of unburned fuel in the cooled exhaust gas as measured by the second fuel sensor 76 differs from the operating baseline of unburned fuel in the exhaust gas stream by a second predetermined threshold value, the controller identifies a malfunction of the first fuel sensor 74 or the second fuel sensor 76 .
- the first fuel sensor 74 and the second fuel sensor 76 in conjunction with the controller 56 , is collectively referred to herein as a fuel leakage detector.
- the controller 56 Upon determining that a leakage of fuel from the fuel passage 44 to the exhaust gas passage 24 is present, the controller 56 causes the exhaust gas passage 24 to be purged of exhaust gas and fuel in a purge operation. Specifically, the controller 56 sends a signal to the first actuator 62 causing the first actuator 62 to transition the first isolation damper 58 from the open position to the closed position preventing high temperature exhaust gas from entering the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 from the exhaust stack 14 . Similarly, the controller 56 sends a signal to the second actuator 64 causing the second actuator 64 to transition the second isolation damper 60 from the open position to the closed position preventing cooled exhaust gas from entering the exhaust stack 14 from the second exhaust gas outlet duct 40 .
- the controller 56 also sends a signal to the third actuator 68 causing the third actuator 68 to transition the purge air inlet valve 66 from the closed position to the open position allowing ambient air to be drawn into the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 from the surrounding atmosphere through the purge air inlet valve 66 by the induction blower 36 .
- the ambient air that is drawn into the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 through the purge air inlet valve 66 is referred to herein as purge air.
- the controller 56 also sends a signal to the fourth actuator 72 causing the fourth actuator 72 to transition the purge air outlet valve 70 from the closed position to the open position allowing gasses, including cooled exhaust gas along with leakage fuel, that has entered the exhaust gas passage 24 from the fuel passage 44 to be expelled to the surrounding atmosphere by the purge air that has been drawn into the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 through the purge air inlet valve 66 .
- the induction blower 36 may operate at a maximum speed such that a substantial flow of purge air is induced to flow into the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 through the purge air inlet valve 66 and through the exhaust gas passage 24 in the heat exchanger 22 .
- the purge air flows through the exhaust gas passage 24 , the cooled exhaust gas within the exhaust gas passage 24 and the exhaust gas outlet duct 34 and fuel that has leaked from the fuel passage 44 into the exhaust gas passage 24 is removed from the exhaust gas passage 24 and subsequently expelled to the surrounding atmosphere through the purge air outlet valve 70 .
- the flow of fuel from the fuel supply line 45 may be prevented from entering the fuel passage 44 through the fuel inlet 46 and bypassed around the heat exchanger 22 directly to the fuel system 50 of the gas turbine engine 12 by appropriate bypass valving (not shown). In this manner, unheated fuel may be supplied to the gas turbine engine 12 allowing the gas turbine engine 12 to continue to operate while the heat exchanger 22 exhaust gas passage 24 is purged of leaked fuel from the fuel passage 44 and/or system components are serviced or replaced.
- the controller 56 is configured to iteratively monitor the second fuel sensor 76 and to rapidly purge the exhaust gas passage 24 within the heat exchanger 22 of high temperature exhaust gas and leakage fuel as previously described upon detecting a leakage of fuel from the fuel passage 44 into the exhaust gas passage 24 .
- the controller 56 may be configured to monitor the second fuel sensor 76 numerous times each second, e.g., 5 times each second, during operation of the system 10 in order to promptly detect any leakage of fuel from the fuel passage 44 into the exhaust gas passage 24 In this manner, the possibility of leaked fuel igniting upon contact with the hot exhaust gas in the exhaust gas passage 24 , the first or second exhaust gas outlet ducts 34 and 40 , the induction blower 36 or the exhaust stack 14 is minimized.
- the controller 56 may be further configured to purge the exhaust gas passage 24 with purge air prior to operation of the system 10 after a period of inoperation. In this manner, any fuel that may have leaked from the fuel passage 44 into the exhaust gas passage 24 , the exhaust gas inlet duct 30 , the first or second exhaust gas outlet ducts 34 and 40 or the induction blower 36 during the period of inoperation may be purged prior to introduction of high temperature exhaust gas into the system so as to prevent ignition of leakage fuel in these components as previously described.
- FIG. 3 a fuel heating system 100 in accordance with other aspects of the present invention is illustrated diagrammatically, where like elements are referred to by like reference numerals.
- the system 100 is similar to the system 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 except as described below.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a fuel heating system 100 used in a combined-cycle electrical power generation plant.
- a heat recovery steam generator 78 (shown only in FIG. 3 ), hereinafter HSRG, is positioned in the exhaust gas stream.
- the HSRG 78 is used to recover excess heat from the engine exhaust gas to generate steam for use in a steam turbine (not shown) to generate additional electrical power, thereby increasing the operating efficiency of the plant.
- the system 100 utilizes a portion of the high temperature exhaust gas to heat the fuel prior to combustion in the gas turbine engine 12 without requiring the use of an intermediate fluid such as water, thereby further increasing the operating efficiency of the plant.
- the HSRG 78 may be positioned in a suitable location in the exhaust gas stream as determined by design parameters of the plant. As heat is removed from the high temperature exhaust gas in the HSRG, the temperature of the exhaust gas is reduced, for example to a temperature of about 450 degrees F. For this reason, the extraction location 42 is positioned upstream of the HSRG in the exhaust stack 14 in order to extract high temperature exhaust gas containing sufficient heat energy to heat the fuel to the desired temperature in the heat exchanger 22 .
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Abstract
Description
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (1)
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US12/175,665 US8015793B2 (en) | 2008-07-18 | 2008-07-18 | Fuel heating via exhaust gas extraction |
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US12/175,665 US8015793B2 (en) | 2008-07-18 | 2008-07-18 | Fuel heating via exhaust gas extraction |
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US20100031624A1 US20100031624A1 (en) | 2010-02-11 |
US8015793B2 true US8015793B2 (en) | 2011-09-13 |
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US12/175,665 Expired - Fee Related US8015793B2 (en) | 2008-07-18 | 2008-07-18 | Fuel heating via exhaust gas extraction |
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Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20110214643A1 (en) * | 2010-02-16 | 2011-09-08 | Cummins Intelletual Properties, Inc. | Fuel heating system and method |
US20130098038A1 (en) * | 2011-10-25 | 2013-04-25 | General Electric Company | System for heating a fuel |
US20140090387A1 (en) * | 2012-10-02 | 2014-04-03 | General Electric Company | Fuel heating system for a power plant and method of heating fuel |
JP2014148973A (en) * | 2013-01-31 | 2014-08-21 | General Electric Co <Ge> | Method of operating fuel heating system |
JP2014202211A (en) * | 2013-04-09 | 2014-10-27 | ゼネラル・エレクトリック・カンパニイ | Simple cycle gas turbomachine system having fuel conditioning system |
US9435258B2 (en) | 2012-10-15 | 2016-09-06 | General Electric Company | System and method for heating combustor fuel |
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